I penned a column for the Edspresso website to give a little extra analysis to the now infamous email exchange between Representative Mike Merrifield (D-Manitou Springs) and Senator Sue Windels (D-Arvada), telling supporters of charter schools that a "special place" awaits them in the hotter realms of the afterlife. If you're so inclined, please check it out. … [Read more...]
Fairness and Integrity: Flunking the Test in Fort Collins
According to one Fort Collins high school math teacher, you can't believe anything I say. If his opinion doesn't bother you, then go ahead and read. My Independence Institute colleague Amy Oliver helped to uncover the story of the slanted Rocky Mountain High School math exam, which is covered this morning at Face the State: RMHS is part of the Poudre School District; its teachers are members of the Poudre Education Association (PEA). The Colorado Supreme Court recently announced that it will hear arguments alleging that the PEA illegally campaigned for democrat candidate for state senate, Bob Bacon. Faithful readers of this site may know something about that issue. For a refresher, here's an op-ed I wrote last July after the state court … [Read more...]
Post Provides One Piece of Case Against Ritter Tax Hike
Update: ColoradoPols draws the opposite conclusion about the Post article ("Ritter Property Tax Freeze Gets Good News"). Maybe they should have read this post first. The incomplete school funding analysis in today's Denver Post, when considered with a few more facts, actually makes the case against the governor's property tax increase for the "Children." Yes, the Post identifies a potential problem with the current structure of Colorado school finance - highlighting that state government carries an ever greater share of the school funding burden, and that the tax bills of property owners in rural, low-growth districts have gone up more than their wealthy, high-growth counterparts. But instead of giving too much significance to this one … [Read more...]
Great Reminders about Education
As usual, one of my favorite teacher friends - Michael at Best Destiny - makes some excellent big picture points about the state of public education, teachers unions, and the hard-working people in the classrooms. His post is a thoughtful follow-up to the story of the unsurprisingly biased Rocky Mountain High School (Fort Collins) math test reported at Face the State and covered here. One point Michael makes is one I don't make enough but needs to sink home with some: The fact is, ladies and gentlemen, that, contrary to popular belief, teachers are not all Democrats. It has been my experience, having worked in 23 schools in my career (yes, I have an odd job description), that there are vastly more Republicans in the education profession … [Read more...]
Despicable and Criminal
This vicious email to Sen. Nancy Spence (R-Centennial) - to threaten her grandchildren - is despicable and criminal. Whoever authored it should indeed be prosecuted. … [Read more...]
“Good Guy. Needs to blog more to be included.”
A new professional-looking, self-styled Colorado Republican blog has emerged today to encourage its cohorts to engage in more clear, direct, factual, and systematic attacks on the state's ruling Democratic majority: Colorado Index. The site's proprietor also seems keen on keeping a tight and selective focus on bloggers who consistently focus on state issues. So what does (s)he say about Mount Virtus? "Works for one of my favorite organizations. Good Guy. Needs to blog more to be included." Okay, okay. I admit I've slacked off lately. Consider the fire lit. Overall, I couldn't be more pleased to see the new site, even if it's sure to reinforce the opinions on the Left that we are connected cogs in Colorado's Vast Right Wing … [Read more...]
Senate Bill 61: A Topsy-Turvy Education Battle
Three Republican state legislators made a statement by walking out of yesterday's House Education Committee meeting yesterday, and the least this blog can do is shine the light on it. Here's the thumbnail of the ongoing story. Senate Bill 61, devised by Senator Sue Windels (D - Arvada), was written to empower the education bureaucracy at the expense of parents who want to exercise the option to start a charter school. That's right: empower educrats, distrust parents. Yes, ignore the fact that there are thousands of kids in this state on waiting lists to get into charter schools. Ignore consumer demand. The all-wise educrats need to keep a tighter thumb on charters, according to the logic of Windels' bill. Well, after weeks of … [Read more...]
Post to Ritter: Hit the Brakes
In today's lead editorial, the Denver Post throws itself in front of the careening Colorado Democrat bus and yells out to the driver, "Stop!" The state's leading liberal newspaper implores Governor Bill Ritter not to be "a toady for special interest legislation," and instead to veto House Bill 1072. (On Sunday, Post columnist Fred Brown already highlighted what a political disaster this bill could potentially be for Ritter and the Democrats.) Making his inaugural official appearance on the Mike Rosen Show yesterday, Ritter said the legislation attacking individual workers' rights "is no big deal." That's right: the best defense for HB 1072 has become that it really won't hurt that much. All part of "The Colorado Promise," I suppose. (The … [Read more...]
Democrats: Paroled Felons Vote, No Proof of Citizenship Required
More substantive blogging later, but it's always instructive to open up the Denver Post and read that the Democrats' idea of cleaning up elections is giving paroled felons the right to vote. Of course, the Post article omits mention of a basic fact in the Senate Bill 83 debate. You have to read the Rocky Mountain News to learn that Democrats defeated an amendment requiring proof of citizenship to vote. Not that any of us should be surprised by these revelations. On the point of paroled felons, the Rocky reports: But Sen. Peter Groff, D-Denver, had a different view. Groff, who amended the bill to allow parolees to vote, argued that state law bans anyone confined behind bars from voting. "When you look at moving people from prison … [Read more...]
The Gipper’s Birthday
In case you hadn't heard, today would have been the 96th birthday of President Ronald Wilson Reagan (1911 - 2004) - one of America's greatest presidents and one of the 20th century's greatest world leaders. His optimism, principled vision, and ability to communicate clearly are sorely missed. … [Read more...]
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